Body of missing attorney found near Lake Texoma

Authorities found the body of the longtime Duncan attorney charged with embezzling money from a client Wednesday in a wooded area two miles from his Washita Point home.

Authorities found the body of the longtime Duncan attorney charged with embezzling money from a client Wednesday in a wooded area two miles from his Washita Point home.

Durant police officers, National Guardsmen and the OSBI were involved in the search that led to the recovery of Charles Barnes’ remains about 11:30 a.m., according to Jessica Brown, OSBI public information officer.

Brown said it appeared the 57-year-old man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but Barnes’ body had been sent to the State Medical Examiner for autopsy and an official cause of death.

Law enforcement officers had been searching for Barnes since Sept. 18, when OSBI agents served search warrants at his Duncan office and lake home.

Barnes was charged with embezzlement earlier in the month. When the news that Barnes faced charges was released, Brown said a number of the attorney’s former clients contacted authorities with claims he had also embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from them.